Mated Pair Now Fighting

[bla403]

Hi Everyone,

I just purchased a pair of Diamond Gobies from one of the highly regarded online stores.

I acclimated them together in the same bucket and put them in the tank together. For the first hour or so they were both together and seemed a little stressed to be in a new enviroment. Lights were off but my apartment is bright so I covered the tank in a blanket and they both calmed down and all seemed to be well.

a few hours later and the larger one is chasing the smaller one trying to nip it. Its constantly opening its mouth wide to show its size and if the other one is within 2 feet it will just dart for it and try to nip it.

I asked the retailer and they said that they were fine in their tank before shipping it to me.

Its a 90 gallon full reef that has been up and running for quite some time. Corals are growing and everything else in the tank is fine.

Any thoughts on why this would occur or any suggestions on how to resolve this? My only thought was to remove 1 or both from the tank and reintroduce them. (I dont have a large QT tank that I could use and my sump is pretty confined so I would need to make something work)

[Lincutis]

Maybe asserting dominence. I know that clown fish will do this.

[SGT_York]

Keep watching for a few more days, If it is occasional not an issue but if the smaller is continously running remove. Also ensure the smaller is eating.

[bla403]

The smaller one is eating (mysis when the float by) and is doing the normal sand sifting thing as well but it only sifts sand after coming out of hiding if the other one isnt around.

There is a lot of rock so there are times they cant see each other so all is well but once the bigger once gets a glipse of the smaller, it will run and chase it.

I had something similar happen to clownfish a few years back but that was because the smaller one was getting sick. I placed the smaller one into my refugium until it was fully healed and then reintroduced it to the main tank and they paired up again. This goby looks healthy though.

[arinrb]

I suggest you bring in Jerry Springer and find out what the real issue is.

[snorvich]

It has been my experience that two of these do not get along together and that you will eventually end up with just one. Why does the retailer think they were a mated pair? And, out of curiosity, which online retailer?

[bla403]

Not sure why they think they were a mated pair but when i questioned them, they said they were getting along fine in their tank. Vivid Aquariums.
Everything from them came nicely packed and the pair of Banggai Cardinals are getting along great. Just not sure why these guys are going nuts.

[hkgar]

If I was going to buy a "mated" pair of any species, I would only trust Diver's Den.

[bla403]

Is there anything else that I can do besides re-introducing them? Should they both be taken out and then put back together?

[julie180]

Since you added them both at the same time (which is a good way to avoid aggression) about the only thing that might help is to take out the aggressive one and let the smaller one get established before re-introducing the aggressor.

[julie180]

I would also contact the seller and let them know they sold you a "fake mated pair" Mated means they have laid eggs, not just hung out in the same tank.

[snorvich]

If I was going to buy a "mated" pair of any species, I would only trust Diver's Den.

This. Unfortunately.

[snorvich]

Since you added them both at the same time (which is a good way to avoid aggression) about the only thing that might help is to take out the aggressive one and let the smaller one get established before re-introducing the aggressor.

Unfortunately, with the same species, I doubt this would work.

[paulywog0667]

I would want to see evidence of egg laying and babies, before calling them a mated pair. With clowns if you have a ton the group dominant one will turn female. Does not mean the next biggest one is male. I doubt it is that easy. I would want evidence of the proven mating pair, in an environment, that they stay together and not just a one time deal for the species. If vivid has no proof to show you them as an established pair. I would ask for a refund. The same two fish in pics, throughout the process. With evidence of the female laying eggs, the male fertilizing them and the eggs hatching. More than once. If they got them from a wholesaler, they should have proof. Otherwise, if you paid for them without proof? idk......

[bla403]

Thanks for the info. I have reached out to the seller on this. I feel that my only remaining course of action is to bring one of the them to a LFS before either is seriously hurt by the fighting that is going on. In my opinion, a full refund should be in order since they were purchased as a pair and have not shown any signs of being a pair and the result is far worse with the fighting. I do not want to wait until one of them is hurt or killed to try and get a refund for their sake.